Naruto Shippūden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 3 is a game developed by CyberConnect2 and published by Namco-Bandai games for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. It was released on March 8th 2013 in Europe, March 5th in North America, and was released on April 18th in Japan. The game starts with a flashback from the beginning of the Nine-Tails' Attack on Konoha and then starts with the Five Kage Summit Arc, ending with an alternate turn of events in the Shinobi World War Arc. In Europe, the game is available in a "Will of Fire Edition" and "True Despair Edition". An enchanced edition called "Full Burst", is to be released in Europe during winter, available also for PC.

Contents

Gameplay

A limited time download was available for Naruto, which allowed players to use Goku's classic turtle gi from Dragon Ball Z.

Namco Bandai stated that the game would feature a 'more profound' story and a combat system that is 'aimed to further evolution'. Other than the usual form of Awakening, renamed Adversity Awakening, the game introduces a new element called Instant Awakening where players can go into awakening mode at any point during the battle, even in the middle of a combo. The down side of being in an Instant Awakened state is that it depletes a player's chakra. If a player depletes their chakra completely while in an Instant Awakening, they will have to wait for a period before being able to charge their chakra. Also characters who are awakened can now be grabbed or hit by an ultimate technique.

Similar to Naruto Shippūden: Clash of Ninja Revolution 3, and other Naruto Wii games, characters can now be knocked out of the ring, but in this game, unless a support character is sacrificed, this always results in an automatic loss of the match. Also, there is stage destruction in addition to ring outs. There is a new addition in the Team Attack System as the player can now use their support characters to get ready to charge and attack. Also, support characters now have health bars and once their health is depleted, the support player can no longer be used and their body remain on the stage lifeless for a few seconds. If the player has one support character, it has ten health bars. If the player has two support characters, each has five health bars.

Boss battles also make their return to the game. The game also has the return of missions in Konoha during story mode. The story mode also features mob battles, similar to Naruto Shippūden: Ultimate Ninja Impact. There is a new system known as "The Ultimate Decision", where players are able to follow two different paths in the game which are the Legend and Hero paths. Legend path is mostly difficult in battles while Hero path is the opposite. Choosing a path gives a player good amount of points on the chosen path if the battle is completed.

Development

Naruto Shippūden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 3 was first announced by Namco Bandai Games in June 2012 in the manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Jump. With the official announcement, Yusuke Sasaki from Namco Bandai promised improvements regarding the fighting system and the story mode. CyberConnect2 CEO Hiroshi Matsuyama also promised the return of "epic boss battles" that were absent in Naruto Shippūden: Ultimate Ninja Storm Generations.

In August 2012, CyberConnect2 started a new suggestion form in their official website, requesting players from all over the world their opinions regarding what they would like to see in Ultimate Ninja Storm 3 and upcoming Naruto games they would release. In July 2012, Comic-Con International, Namco Bandai Games America representatives confirmed plans for a Spring 2013 release in North America.

In October 28, London MCM Expo, CyberConnect2 CEO Hiroshi Matsuyama announced a card edition, a poster, a Naruto DLC Goku costume, the original Naruto Storm 3 soundtrack, the Naruto Storm 3 game, a figurine by Banpresto, and a Naruto edition and a Sasuke edition. They also stated that those who pre-order will get five free downloadable costumes, including Armoured Naruto. This game is rated T for Teen. There is a "violent imagery" filter that can be turned on or off, for people under 13.

In January 4, 2013, Hiroshi Matsuyama announced that there will be over 80 playable characters.

In July 4, 2013, Naruto Shippūden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 3 Full Burst was announced by Namco Bandai Games Europe, containing material of the original with enhanced cinematics, all released DLC including the new "Final Episode of the Uchiha Brothers" DLC, which expands the game's story and adds Kabuto Yakushi's Sage Mode form to the character roster and 100 additional missions in the story. Owners of the console game will be able to download the new content as a DLC pack.

Non-Canon Game Ending

As the war is still on-going in the anime and manga, a non-canon ending to the story was made.

Defeated, Tobi, Madara and Kabuto fall back, thus giving victory to the Allied Shinobi Forces. The Five Great Shinobi Countries shinobi return to their villages while Kage discuss on preparing for a counter-attack against Madara's group along with bettering the peace between them and their countries. Naruto is congratulated for his victory upon awakening from his battle with Tobi in Konoha and is spurred by the spirits of his parents to join his friends.

Glitches

There is currently a glitch during the Five Kage vs. Madara battle. Once A and Ōnoki use their combination against Madara, the sound of electricity continues in the background for the rest of the battle.

There appears to be a glitch that occurs when the player has a Naruto Shippūden: Ultimate Ninja Storm Generations save file before playing. Any character unlocked via the save file will not be able to unlock different support types such as attack, guard and balance. However, if the player downloads a DLC that contains a costume for a character without all 3 support types, they will get the 3 support types for that character.

Similar to Naruto Shippūden: Ultimate Ninja Storm Generations, non-playable characters can be made playable through manipulation of game data. In Naruto Shippūden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 3, the reincarnated Kage can be made playable through this method, but their movesets are incomplete and only available in the campaign.

In Ultimate Adventure via Collections, if the player play A's ultimate technique only his technique will be shown, but not himself executing the technique.

Sometimes, if Kurotsuchi and/or a puppet master is used, the player's opponent will be unable to move.

There is another glitch that involves Kakuzu and Hidan. If the player select either Kakuzu or Hidan's "Attack" support type and in the match and cause a "Strike Back" with either character, their voices will be switched (Kakuzu having Hidan's voice and Hidan having Kakuzu's voice).

When fighting as Kakuzu there is a slight glitch with his shadow where it doesn't update properly when the player reaches the end of an unconnected combo (his arm stays elongated).

In story mode, when the player goes back and replays the fight "Tears in the Final Valley" or "Crimson Rampage", the item hotpad will still appear on screen even though the characters can't use them. An additional glitch is when the player tries to use any item that is thrown (ex. paper bomb) it will not display the animation however if the player jumps and tries to use the item the player will begin to fly (the character bobs up and down as long as the player is spamming the button).

If a character receives damage at the same time as initiating their Ultimate Jutsu, the user's character will have its eyes closed and/or will be gritting his/her teeth (that is, if the animation shows the character's face).

Trivia

Hiroshi Matsuyama, president of CyberConnect2, mentioned in an interview that, other than Hiruzen Sarutobi, there would be no characters from Part I. This is not true, due to the fact that Hashirama Senju, Tobirama Senju and Kimimaro are playable, as well as the Part I iterations of Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, Neji, Lee, Hinata and Gaara. However, it was revealed that what Matsuyama said was mistranslated. He meant to say that not all of the Part I characters would return in Storm 3.

In the story mode when Naruto Uzumaki meets the other jinchūriki and tailed beasts, Utakata asks if Naruto remembers him when introducing himself, referencing a filler arc in the anime, where the two jinchūriki had previously met. This only happens in the English version however, as the Japanese audio makes no mention of a prior meeting.

While wearing the School Uniform and Road to Ninja costumes, Sasuke's sword is not shown. Instead, whenever he uses his sword in his attacks, it appears through a summoning and will disappear after his attack ends.

While wearing the ANBU and School Uniform costumes, Kakashi doesn't have his Konoha forehead protector to cover his Sharingan. Whenever he activates his awakening, it's shown that he pulls nothing.

Some characters lose their downloadable content costumes during certain situations. Examples include Jiraiya in Sage Mode and Naruto in Chakra Mode, losing their costumes upon transformation and returning once the awakening ends. Danzō and A also lose their Kage hats when they activate their awakenings in addition to losing them during their ultimate techniques.